Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02250418 2003-03-18
PIPE CUSHION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a support assembly for supporting
an
elongate pipe to a channel member°. iMore particularly, the present
invention is directed to a
pipe cushion which supports the pipe within a two-piece pipe clamp.
El;ACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is well known to support pipes and other elongate bodies with structural
support
channel. Pipe clamps may be used to support the pipe to the channel. Existing
two-piece pipe
clamp assemblies include a pair of clamp halves whereby each clamp half is
positioned within
the channel about the pipe and connected together using a threaded nut and
bolt assembly
through flanges in the clamp halves. Tightening of the nut and bolt assembly
urges the clamp
halves together securing the pipe to 'the channel.
The clamping forces employed to secure the clamp halves about the pipe may
tend to
bend or otherwise damage the pipe upon securing the pipe to the channel. In
order to prevent
such damage during se~curement, t:he art has seen the use of pipe cushions
which may be
positioned between the pipe and the pipe clamp.
For example U.S. Pat. No. 4T0,698 shows a bottom-opening pipe cushion in which
the
pipe is inserted through a lower slat i:herein. Bottom-opening pipe cushions
of this type are
designed for use with a single-member pipe clamp. These pipe cushions would
not be suitable
for use with a two-piece: pipe clamp as, the cushion would then exhibit a
tendency to be pulled
open at the insertion slot when a two-piece pipe clamp is tightened about the
pipe cushion.
T'wo-piece pipe clamps tend to pinch the bottom-opening pipe cushion body at
its top surface,
causing the pipe cushion body to be pulled about the surface of the pipe. The
pulling of the
pipe cushion body about the pipe surfaee results in the insertion slot being
pulled open and
may result in the pipe cushion body being lifted from the pipe at its top
surface, resulting in
further discontinuities between the pope cushion and the inserted pipe.
CA 02250418 2003-12-03
In order to accommodate the use of two-piece pipe clamps, the art has
developed
improvements in pipe cushions. An example of an improved pipe cushion used in
combination
with a pipe clamp is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,148. The pipe cushion shown
therein includes
a generally cylindrical body formed from deformable material. The pipe is
inserted into the
cushion body through a slot in the upper end thereof opposite the slot. The
slot divides the
cushion body into two halves which must be pried open to load the pipe into
the cushion. Once
loaded into the cushion, the pipe clamp halves are secured about the pipe
cushion to secure the
pipe to the structural channel.
One disadvantage in the pipe cushions of the prior art is their failure to
provide
substantial continuous contact about the full circumference of an inserted
pipe. United States
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,778,537 and 5,018,260 provide examples of various difference
designs of such
pipe cushions. Typically, the discontinuous contact is a result of an overly
wide insertion slot
which is too large to be closed by tightening of the clamp halves. Other
times, the
discontinuous contact is the result of an elongate notch provided on the
interior surface of the
pipe cushion so that the insertion slot may be more easily pried open for pipe
insertion. The
'148 patent provides an example of a pipe cushion having a weakened or open
location in the
pipe cushion body which facilitates flexing or deformation of the body
thereabout. Constructions
such as that of the '148 patent introduce a further area of discontinuity, in
addition to the
slotted opening, which lessens the protection to the pipe from the pipe clamp.
Another disadvantage in the pipe cushions of the prior art is the need to pry
open those
pipe cushions having very narrow insertion slots. Pipe cushions attempting to
maximize the
amount of contact between the pipe cushion and the inserted pipe can be
cumbersome to install
as they require greater deflection when receiving a pipe therein.
It is therefore desirable to provide an improved pipe cushion for use in a
support
assembly which may be easily fitted onto the pipe and which provides
substantially continuous
protective support of the pipe between the structural channel and the pipe
clamp assembly.
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SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a support assembly for
supporting
an elongate pipe to a channel member.
It is further object the present. invention to provide a pipe cushion which
supports and
protects a pipe against a channel member and which is secured to the channel
member by a
pipe clamp.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a pipe cushion which
is easily
attachable to a pipe.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a bottom-opening
pipe
cushion providing substantially continuous contact about a pipe.
In the efficient attainment of these and other objects, the present invention
provides
an assembly for supporting a pipe to a structural channel. The assembly
includes a pipe
cushion including a deformable cushion body having a base for positioning on
the structural
channel. The base includes a slot therethrough. The pipe cushion body includes
a continuous
tubular wall extending from the bake and being divided by the slot. The
tubular wall forms a
pipe supporting passageway therethrough. The slot in the base is in
communication with the
passageway for permitting insertiory of the pipe thereinto. A pair of pipe
clamp elements are
employed which included a first end attachable to the channel and an opposed
second end for
mutual connection about the pipe cushion. The second ends of the pipe clamp
elements are
connectable adjacent a crest of the pope cushion body which is spaced from the
slot.
The present invention also provides a pipe cushion body having a tapered lead
into the
slot as well as entry facilitating members to force the slot open prior to the
pipe entering the
slot so as to facilitate insertion of the pipe therethrough and into the
passageway.
The present invention also provides an area of increased thickness on the
crest of the
body so as to resist separation from the pipe surface thereabout, upon
attachment of the pipe
clamps about the pipe cushion. The pipe cushion body is deformable about the
crest so as to
admit the pipe into the passageway.
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BiRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the pipe cushion and clamp assembly
of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective showing of the pipe cushion of FIG. 1 supported over a
channel.
FIG. 3 is a perspective showing of the pipe cushion of FIG. 1.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are side and front elevational showings of the pipe cushion of
FIG. 3.
FIGS. 6, 7 and ft are vertical cross-sectional showings of the pipe cushion of
FIG. 4
taken respectively through the lines Ei--6, 7--7 and >3--8 thereof.
FIG. 9 is a bottom perspective showing of the pipe clamp cushion of FIG. 4.
FIG. 10 depicts installation of i;he present invention about a pipe.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention further includes locations
along the
wall of the cushion body and along the base which provides areas of raised
relief for
engagement with the pipe clamp elements for enhancing contact between the pipe
and the
piipe cushion including spaced apart: grooves 19a and 19b.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OP THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a pipe cushion
i0 for
supporting a pipe 12 to a structural channel 14. Pipe cushion 10 is secured to
channel 14 by
a two-piece pipe clamp 16.
Channel 14 and pipe clamp 1.6 are well known in the art and are both currently
marketed by the assignee of the pressent invention under the trademarks
KINDORF and
SUPERSTRUT. Channel 14 is an elongate U-shaped member providing a pair of
transversely-spaced sidewalls 15a, 1!5b which define a trough 17 therebetween.
The free
edges of sidewalls 15a, 15b are bent: over into trough 17 to form a pair of
elongate retaining
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grooves i9. Pipe clamp 16 includes identically-configured first clamp bracket
18 and second
clamp bracket 20. Each clamp bracket 18, 20 includes a first end, 22, 24 for
retentively
engaging the retaining grooves 10 of channel 14 and a second end 26, 28 for
fastening
engagement to the other bracket. Fastening devices such as a threaded bolt 30
and nut 32
rnay be used to fasten second end~:c 2'.6, 28 of brackets 18, 20 to each
other.
FIGS. 3-5 show pipe cushion 10 in greater detail. Pipe cushion 10 is generally
formed
from flexible material such as an elastomeric polymer or soft plastic by well-
known
rnanufacturing techniques. Pipe cushion 10 includes an elongate flexible
cushion body 34
having a generally planar base 36 and a generally continuous tubular wall 38.
Tubular wall 38
includes an exterior surface 40 and a substantially cylindrical interior
surface 42. Cylindrical
interior surface 42 defines a longitudinal passageway 44 for accommodating
pipe 12.
Planar base 36 is. divided by a longitudinal slot 46 communicating with
passageway 44.
Slot 46 is defined by tapering surfaces 48 and 50 which taper outwardly from
passageway 44
t~o exterior surface 40 so as to proviide a tapered lead in and to assist in
deflecting base
portions 36a and 36b a~rvay from each other during cushion installation over a
pipe as will be
discussed further hereinbelow. Slot 46 is formed so as to substantially fully
enclose pipe 12
within passageway 44.
Pipe cushion 10 preferably includes a crest rib 52 formed on exterior surface
40 at the
apex, or crest 53, of cushion body 34. Crest rib 52 is a localized region of
thickness, being
preferably a region of raised relief on surface 40 of tubular wall 38 and
located diametrically
opposite slot 46. Crest rib 52 perform<.t two important functions in the
present invention. First,
tike relative thickness of crest rib 52 and the equidistant placement thereof
from both planar
base portions 36a and 3;6b ensure that tubular wall 38 deflects thereabout
when pipe cushion
10 is inserted over pipe 12. Second, clamp brackets 18 and 20 will tend to
ride over crest rib
52 as they are tightened about pipe cushion 10, causing crest rib 52 to
deflect towards pipe
12 and to thereby provide better contact between cushion 10 and pipe 12.
Exterior surface 40 preferably also includes longitudinal side ribs 54 and
longitudinal
base ribs 56. Side ribs 54 are formed o~n either side of cushion body 34 about
midway between
crest rib 52 and planar (base 36. Base ribs 56 are preferably formed on either
side of cushion
body 34 adjacent planar base 36. Both side ribs 54 and base ribs 56 are
provided to make
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CA 02250418 2003-03-18
compressive contact between cushion body 34 and clamp brackets 18 and 20 prior
to clamp
brackets 18 and 20 pinching exterior surface 40 about crest 53 of pipe cushion
10.
Accordingly, as clamp brackets 1~3 .and 20 compress cushion body 34, each side
rib 54
transmits the compressive force of clamp 16 towards pipe 12 prior to pipe
cushion 10 being
pinched and pulled about pipe 12 towards crest 53. Similarly, base ribs 56 are
provided to
rnake compressive contact between base portions 36a and 36b along slot 46 as
pipe clamp
brackets 18 and 20 are joined. Base ribs 56 thereby transmit the compressive
clamping force
prior to the development of significant pinching at the crest of pipe cushion
i0 which could
pull base portions 36a .and 36b apart.
Pipe cushion 10 therefore conforms substantially completely about pipe 12 when
secured with a two-piece clamp wtreireas prior art pipe cushions could be
frictionally pulled
towards the fastening rneans of such clamps. The pipe cushion 10 of the
present invention,
in providing more complete contact wi?th pipe 12, also provides better
mechanical isolation and
thermal and electrical insulation of pipe 12 than is known in the prior art.
While pipe cushion 10 of the present invention preferably includes crest rib
52, side
ribs 54, and base ribs 56, it may be appreciated that each may be provided
independently of
tihe others so as to provide compressive contact of the pipe cushion 10 about
pipe 12.
As shown in FIGS. 6-9, pipe cushion 10 includes a pair of depending entry
members
58 and 60 extending from the bottom surface 62 of planar base 36. Entry
members 58 and
6~0 are positioned on either side of slot: 46 with entry member 58 extending
from base portion
62a and entry member 60 extending from base portion 62b. Entry members 58 and
60 are
identically-formed members provided to extend into trough 17 of channel 14
when pipe
cushion 10 is supported) thereon. Each entry member 58, 60 includes a pair of
side walls 64,
66 and a backwall 68 wlhich define an interior region 70. Sidewalk 64 and 66
include tapered
edges 65 and 67 resper~tively. Tapered edges 65 and 67 may be coplanar with
the tapered
IE~ad into slot 46 as defined by surf'ac:es 48 and 50. The actual alignment
between tapered
edges 65, 67 and surfaces 48, 50 should allow tapered edges 65 and 67 to make
initial
contact with pipe 12 being inserted into passageway 44. Furthermore, it is
preferred that
tapered edges make contact with pipe 12 prior to any portion of the pipe
entering slot 46. The
further from crest 53 that pipe 12 rn~akes initial contact with tapered edges
65 and 67, the
lower the insertion force required to open slot 46 to allow pipe 12
therethrough. Entry
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members 58 and 60 therefore allovu for easier installation of pipe cushion 10
about pipe 12
by moving the points of initial engagement of the pipe with the cushion away
from the
deflection location.
Within interior rf~gion 70, entry members 58 and 60 enclose arcuate portions
62a and
62b of bottom surface 62. As more clearly shown in FIG. 7, arcuate portions
62a and 62b
preferably maintain a substantially parallel alignment with cylindrical
interior surface 42.
A,rcuate portions 62a and 62b thereby provide an installer more room to insert
a finger into
interior region 70 and manually spread planar base portions 36a and 36b apart
as may be
required when pipe cushion 10 is either installed over or removed from around
a pipe 12.
With reference to FIG. 10, pipe cushion 10 may be installed by placing pipe
cushion
i0 over pipe 12 and pushing down on pipe cushion 10 with a manual installation
force F. As
pipe 12 makes initial contact with tapered edges 65 and 67 of entry members
58, 60,
installation force F will be transmitted through tapered edges 65 and 67 to
cause planar base
portions 36a and 36b to outwardly deflect away from each other. With the
urging of
installation force F, pipe 12 travels along edges 65 and 67 towards passageway
44 to further
open slot 46 until pipe 12 is able to pass therethrough and into passageway
44. Once fully
inserted into passageway 44, the resiNience of pipe cushion body 34 ensures
that planar base
portions 36a and 36b return to an undefleded position whereby pipe cushion 10
engages
substantially the entire circumference of a portion of pipe 12. Furthermore,
and referring again
to FIGS. 1 and 2, entry members 58 and 60 extend into trough 17 of channel 14.
Bottom
surface 62 of pipe cushion 10 engages the bent-over free edges of sidewall 15a
and 15b of
channel 14.
While entry members 58 and 60 are shown located on the bottom surface of pipe
cushion 10, it is contemplated by the present invention that entry members 58
and 60 could
also be employed with a pipe cushion body having an entry opening in any
direction so as to
force the opening wider while the pipe is still positioned outside the
passageway of the pipe
cushion.
While the particular embodiment of the present invention has been shown and
described, it will be obvious to those <_skilled in the art that changes and
modifications may be
made without departing from the teachings of the invention. The matter set
forth in the
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foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of
illustration only and not
as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined
in the following
claims when viewed in their proper perspective based on the prior art.
